Stern action will be taken against corrupt officials in state institutions -Defence Sec

Cautioning the government officers who were involved in corruption, Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne said the good work done by many dedicated officers in state institutions were at stake due to a few corrupt officers among them.

“Their hard work and dedication was lost,” he said, adding that organised crimes, drug smuggling and extortions needed to be curbed while cleaning corruption in state institutions to make the government sector free of corruption and efficiency.

Defence Secretary, who pledged to end corruption in the state sector, addressing a forum of Police officers of the Southern Province at a session to evaluate the progress in respective Police divisions held at the Hotel-De-Galle in Galle, today, said measures would also be taken to address the existing grievances faced by officers.

He further said Sri Lanka Police had made tremendous sacrifices and won many commendations for their service but they needed to re-think its present status and people’s expectations with regard to the Police service in the country, according to the Ministry of Defence.
“People feel safe and protected because of the Police service of a country, where without this service people’s life, liberty and freedom is lost. Therefore, Police needs to be a corruption-free service to have a just and peaceful society,” Maj. Gen. Gunaratne said.

Meanwhile, the Defence Secretary lauded the Police Department for its recent contribution towards conducting a free, fair and peaceful election without violence.He said President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was elected by the people with the hope of assuring and reinstating safety and security of Sri Lanka.